Severe weather that pounded the Chicago area with gusty winds, torrential downpours and frequent lightning has begun to wind down and move out of the region, but some strong storms are still possible.
Heavy rainfall is still possible, along with wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour.
Here are the latest headlines:
10 p.m.: Severe Storms Damage Trees, Cause Flooding and Power Outages Across Chicago Area
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Severe thunderstorms hammered the Chicago area Tuesday, leaving thousands without power, trees damaged throughout the region and viaducts and roadways flooded in several communities, including in Chicago.
In the city’s North Ravenswood neighborhood, trees were completely uprooted and branches were snapped, along with roadways left flooded by soaking rains.
Flooding also occurred underneath several viaducts along DuSable Lake Shore Drive, stranding several vehicles and causing travel headaches for drivers throughout the evening.
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Standing water was also reported in several locations in the city.
9:10 p.m.: Thousands Without Power After Storms Pound Chicago Area, ComEd Officials Say
Thousands of ComEd customers across northern Illinois were left without power Tuesday after a series of strong-to-severe thunderstorms rolled through the region.
According to the utility company, a total of 23,705 of its customers are without power as of 9 p.m. Tuesday.
Of those, 6,858 are located in Cook County, with another 4,081 in Ogle County, according to the latest figures.
More figures can be found here.
8:49 p.m.: Coast Guard Rescues 2 Boaters From Lake Michigan After Boats Capsize During Storms
Strong thunderstorms overturned eight boats on Lake Michigan near suburban Evanston on Tuesday afternoon, leaving two boaters clinging to their capsized boats, authorities said.
According to authorities, the Evanston Fire Department was called to the lakeshore at approximately 5;22 p.m. after several overturned boats were reported.
When they arrived, they encountered high winds, heavy rain and sleet-like conditions along the beach, with two boats still clinging to their boats.
The department called in the US Coast Guard, the Wilmette Sail Club and other staffers, who were able to get the two boaters safely to shore.
The Coast Guard was able to contact the swimmers within 30 minutes, and transported them to Wilmette Harbor for evaluation.
8:30 p.m. Severe Thunderstorm Warning Ends, but Strong Storms Still Linger
A severe thunderstorm warning for northeastern Illinois has expired, but strong thunderstorms are still lingering in several locations.
The warning was canceled for Cook County, the last county it had remained in effect for, and a severe thunderstorm watch has also been canceled for Lake, DuPage and Cook counties.
Currently, a line of strong thunderstorms, extending on a line from Herscher to Flanagan, is moving toward the southeast at 30 miles per hour. Wind gusts of 50 miles per hour are possible with the storms.
Torrential rain is also possible, according to forecast models.
Kankakee, Chicago Heights, East Chicago, Harvey, Dolton, Homewood, Matteson, Hammond, Gary, Portage and Valparaiso will likely all be in the line of the storms as they move through.
7:50 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Remains in Effect for LaPorte, Berrien Counties
A severe thunderstorm warning remains in effect for LaPorte County in northern Indiana and Berrien County in southwestern Michigan until 9:15 p.m. Eastern time, according to the National Weather Service.
Officials say the storms are located on a line extending from Berrien Springs to New Carlisle, moving to the southeast at 35 miles per hour.
Wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour and nickel-size hail have been reported.
7:38 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Canceled for Several Counties
A severe thunderstorm watch, originally set to remain in effect until 11 p.m., has been canceled in McHenry, DeKalb, and Kane counties, according to the National Weather Service.
The watch will remain in effect in Lake, DuPage and Cook counties, per the NWS.
7:37 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Canceled for McHenry, Kane Counties
A severe thunderstorm warning has been canceled for part of McHenry and Kane counties, but remains in effect until 8:15 p.m. in Lake, DuPage and Cook counties.
As of 7:34 p.m., storms were located on a line extending from Paddock Lake to Hawthorn Woods, and from Elk Grove Village to Woodridge, moving to the east at 40 miles per hour.
The storms were packing wind gusts of 60 miles per hour, along with frequent lightning and occasionally heavy rain.
7:22 p.m.: Gusty Winds Cause Downed Tree Branches in Several Communities
A series of local storm reports have indicated the damage that gusty winds have caused in several locations.
-According to trained weather spotters, tree branches at least six inches in diameter were downed by the storms in Rochelle, located in Ogle County.
-In Winnebago County, a 4-inch diameter tree limb was downed near Sandy Hollow Golf Course in Rockford.
-In DeKalb County, a tree was snapped at its base near Northern Illinois University’s campus.
-A wind gust of 68 miles per hour was recorded near DeKalb Airport at approximately 6:45 p.m.
-2-to-3 inch diameter tree branches were knocked down in Sycamore, located in DeKalb County.
-A wind gust of 52 miles per hour was recorded by police in Woodstock, located in McHenry County.
-More downed tree branches were reported in Kingston, located in DeKalb County.
-A wind gust of 60 miles per hour was recorded by officials in Davis Junction, located in Ogle County.
7:09 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for NE Illinois
A new severe thunderstorm warning has been issued for parts of five different counties, including all of Cook County.
That warning will impact eastern McHenry County, all of Lake County, eastern Kane County and all of DuPage and Cook counties, and will remain in effect until 8:15 p.m.
According to the National Weather Service, severe storms were located along a line extending from near Powers Lake to Crystal Lake, and from South Elgin to Montgomery, moving to the east at 40 miles per hour.
The storms have a history of producing wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour, with forecasters also calling for possible hail and frequent lightning.
7:01 p.m.: Strong Thunderstorms to Impact South, West Suburbs of Chicago
Although not qualifying for the designation of “severe” thunderstorms, a line of strong storms is expected to sweep across areas west and south of Chicago in the coming hour.
According to doppler radar, the storms are on a line extending from Hinckley to Dalzell, moving to the east at 50 miles per hour.
Wind gusts of up to 50 miles per hour are associated with the storms, along with lightning and heavy rains.
Portions of Kendall, LaSalle, northwestern Will, northwestern Grundy, southeastern Kane and southern DuPage counties will be impacted by the storms, which are expected to sweep through the area by 7:45 p.m.
6:51 p.m.: Cubs Game vs. Rockies Postponed Due to Rain
The Chicago Cubs' scheduled home game against the Colorado Rockies has been postponed due to rain, the team announced Tuesday evening.
According to the Cubs, the game will be made up as part of a doubleheader Wednesday. First pitch of the first game will take place at 1:20 p.m., with the second game starting at 5:30 p.m.
Both games will be seven innings.
6:45 p.m.: Flash Flood Warning Issued for Lake, DuPage and Cook Counties
A flash flood warning has also been issued for parts of Lake, DuPage and Cook counties until 9:15 p.m.
A thunderstorm brought heavy rains to that area Tuesday evening, with one-to-two inches of rain reported in some locations. More slow-moving thunderstorms are expected to develop in the area, producing rainfall rates of 1-to-2 inches of rain per hour.
6:20 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Warning Issued for 6 Counties
According to the National Weather Service, McHenry, DeKalb and Kane counties are all included in the warning, which will remain in effect until 7:15 p.m.
Eastern Lee, southeastern Ogle and all of Boone County are all impacted by the warning as well.
6 p.m.: Severe Thunderstorm Watch Issued for Northern Illinois
Lake, DuPage and Cook counties are also now included in a severe thunderstorm watch that will remain in effect until 11 p.m.
McHenry, DeKalb and Kane counties were already included in that watch area, along with Boone, Lee, Ogle and Winnebago counties.
A severe thunderstorm watch remains in effect for all six counties until 11 p.m.
According to forecast models, thunderstorms are expected to develop in Iowa and Wisconsin Tuesday afternoon, and could push into the region in the late afternoon or early evening hours. Those storms could produce torrential downpours, leading to a risk of localized flash flooding.
The storms could also pack wind gusts in excess of 60 miles per hour, and could produce quarter-size hail.
